10 years after the 2014–16 Ebola epidemic in west Africa: advances and challenges in African epidemic preparedness
The 2014–16 Ebola virus disease epidemic in west Africa, declared a decade ago on March 23, 2014, left an indelible mark among the 21st-century’s various public health emergencies. The epidemic, which primarily affected Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, took months to identify after a first cluster of cases in December, 2013. It took almost 3 years to contain, and claimed thousands of lives.1 The epidemic laid bare the dire consequences of weak health systems, poor disease surveillance, an initially lethargic response, and inadequate community engagement.